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Show AJR FORCE NEWS Air Force life savers Hilltop Times Q August 25, 2005 O Jumper: BRAC decisions needed for transformation BY 1ST LT. TIM DOUGHERTY Air Force Print News WASHINGTON—The Air Force chief of staff told the Base Realignment and Closure Commission Saturday that while many of the decisions related to base closure are "gut wrenching," the changes are needed to allow the Air Force to continue to transform to meet the war-fighting demands of the 21st century. "The decision to close many of these bases is very personal to me," Gen. John P. Jumper said. "Many of us will feel the impact of these decisions. I lived at many of these bases as a kid... It's an opportunity that we must seize to allow us to continue to be able to respond to emerging missions around the world today." The Air Force has experienced BRAC rounds in the past, with the most recent occurring in 1995 after the Air Force shrunk by 200,000 Airmen. "In 1995, the BRAC rounds were a consequence of decisions that had already been made relative to troop strength," the general said. "The recommendations today are proactive. This round doesn't only accommodate planned reductions. Instead, it allows us to reset our force, anticipate challenges and establish recommendations organizations we need for the future." go to Pres. Bush General Jumper said the recommendations are both strategy and capability based, and they support the intent of the BRAC panel, which is to divest the Air Force of infrastructure it no longer needs, while improving the effectiveness and military value of retained assets. U.S. Air Force photo by Sue Campbell "We know we'll be a smaller force; however, we'll be a more lethal force thanks to advancements in technology," the genMaj. (Dr.) Christopher Coppola and Dora Hill discuss her son's status at Wflford Hall Medical Center. Dr. Coppola, a pedlatric surgeon with the eral explained. "We know where and when and how we station 859th Surgical Operations Squadron, was part of the team that flew to Anchorage, Alaska, on Aug. 14, in an attempt to save Michael's life. our forces must change in order to enable the transformation required by the new security environment." The general also said the BRAC recommendations were made with a single, total force -- active, Guard and Reserve — in mind and not just as a combination of individual components or representatives. BY DEWEY MITCHELL and pediatric critical care week or two post-ECMO of 36 days on ECMO, and "The Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve are inte59th Medical Wing Public Affairs physicians, pediatric surtreatment before he goes there have been no previous gral parts of the Air Force," General Jumper said. "Maintaining geons, critical care nurses home. survivors of adenovirus who an optimal mix of manpower and missions among components LACKLAND AFB, and respiratory therapists. had been on (it) more than Texas (AFPN) — For the Many hospitals worldis key to their continued relevance and critical to their contrisecond time in less than six wide now have ECMO, but 21 days." The 14-person team left bution to the finest Air Force in the world." months, a child in Alaska no other hospital has the Although she is still hoshere Aug. 13 with their Saying "we know what to do and we need to act," the general was rescued from near death battery-operated portable long-distance air transportpitalized in Alaska, doctors stressed to the panel that this round of BRAC proceedings is by a team of Air Force med- extra corporeal membrane able capability which the are hopeful she may slowly the most significant opportunity to take critical steps in the ics at Wilford Hall Medical oxygenator equipment. The Air Force requires to help recover the use of her lungs. transformation process in his 39 years of service. Center -here who stay on save infants and children of They said it is too early to oxygenator is a heart-lung "Change is not easy and we kno^frat* he said.lMSut wenegT alert for their unique lifesav- bypass device which circumilitary families who may determine whether she will to have the courage to take the steps we think need to be taken. ing mission. . .., be stationed in remote or lates and oxygenates the have neurological or develIt is my conviction that the Air Force recommendations takeh locations without access opmental problems from the together with the other service's recommendations are the blood, giving diseased or The latest "mission was to the equipment. Wilford illness. completed Aug. 14, cover- poisoned lungs a chance to right thing to do for the nation." Hall medics place six to heal. ing more than 8,000 miles "In order for us to help a The hearings were and 28 hours, traveling to civilian child, the child's The team put the baby on 12 patients on ECMO each the last formal opAnchorage, Alaska, to save ECMO at the Anchorage year, and two to four require congressman/senator must portunity for repa20-month-old boy. request a humanitarian mishospital, proceeded by am- long-distance transport, ofresentatives from sion through the secretary The boy, Michael Hill, was bulance to a C-17 Globemas- ten from locations such as the Department of ter III at nearby Elmendorf Alaska and Hawaii. of defense health affairs secsuffering a severe case of Defense to provide tion, which then takes the repneumonia and was getting Air Force Base, then flew A 10-month old Alaskan testimony before quest to the secretary of the progressively worse at a lo- back here with the patient girl who was rescued by the panel sends and his mother, Dora Hill. Air Force, then the Air Force cal hospital when the team the team on April 28 had a final version of was contacted for assisreturned to Alaska on Aug. surgeon general, then we get the recommendaAlthough Michael is in the call," Dr. Meyer said. tance, said Maj. (Dr.) John critical, but stable condition, 13 after being hospitalized tions to President Lin, a pediatric critical care and on ECMO at Wilford Bush by Sept. 8. for more than three months. With a survival rate of its physician, The president can Hall, Dr. Lin gives him about Carle David had a severe patients at about 75 percent, either reject the list a 50-percent chance of sur- case of viral pneumonia reminders of the many suc"It was a team effort by or accept it without vival compared to about 10 called adenovirus. cess stories hang on the wall doctors, nurses, technicians, If he modifications. outside the Wilford Hall's flight crews and the medical percent before he was placed "This young lady was able accepts the list, it staff at the hospital," Dr. Lin on the lifesaving device. He to defy the odds by surviving neonatal intensive care unit, U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jim Varhegyl is submitted to Consaid. "The child is now criti- said he expects Michael to this illness," said Maj. (Dr.) where plaques from thankAir Force Chief Of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper gress, which can stay on the equipment for ful parents show pictures of answers questions from members of the cally ill, but stable." Michael Meyer, the girl's similarly accept or two to three weeks, then rehealthy survivors, thanks to Base Realignment and Closure Commission physician. "She is unique The critical-care air transreject it. main at Wilford Hall another the work of this team. because she spent a total port team included neonatal during a hearing Saturday on Capitol Hill. Final BRAC by Sept 8 Rescue mission saves Alaskan child Mechanics keep war effort rolling BY TECH SGT. BRIAN DAVIDSON 447th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Brian Davidson Staff Sgt. Shawn Thompson installs a turbocharger during a Humvee engine change here. He Is a vehicle mechanic with the 447th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron and is deployed from Kadena Air Base, Japan. BAGHDAD, Iraq (AFPN) — Highmobility multipurpose-wheeled vehicles, or Humvees as they're more commonly known, began serving America's Soldiers, Airmen and Marines worldwide in 1983. For 22 years the vehicle has been an icon for troops supporting the full spectrum of operations from humanitarian and disaster relief to major theater war. Today, it is the skill and determination of Air Force and Army mechanics and vehicle fleet managers working together that keep the Humvee on the frontlines of the war on terrorism. The 447th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron's vehicle maintenance flight has met the challenge of keeping the Humvee rolling, as well as achieving a nearly 100-percent mission capable rate on almost 400 vehicles, including general- and special-purpose trucks, equipment and refuelers. "Parts - that's what it's all about when it comes to keeping the fleet in service," said Master Sgt. Scotty Browning, vehicle management superintendent. "The system wasn't working, and somewhere along the line somehow the system lost sight of the fact that these weren't just vehicle parts, they were parts needed to win the war." Immediately upon arriving here. Sergeant Browning, Master Sgt. Mike Campbell, maintenance flight chief, and the rest of the maintainers, tackled the parts issue by calling on their Army counterparts for assistance. Now, Air Force vehicle maintainers here take advantage of the Army supply system and even use Army forms to get critical parts. "We still use our Air Force reachback capabilities for routine and noncritical parts, but the Army system of keeping a vast supply of parts on-hand helps us keep the rubber on the road," the sergeant said. Deployed from Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., Sergeant Campbell laid the groundwork with his Army counterpart and made the joint venture a priority. With the problem of getting vehicle parts resolved, the team faced the daunting task of rebuilding a fleet that had dipped in its mission-capable rates. For weeks, the team worked nearly 15 hours every day in the grease and grime of a maintenance tent that stays stiflingly hot both day and night. Every day an ever-changing line of trucks, buses, Humvees and other vehicles can be found in the tent, each waiting their turn for repair. Despite the fact that the mechanics serve a support role in the war on terrorism, an ever-present danger remains. One afternoon, most of the crew was at the group command building for Sergeant Browning's promotion ceremony. Three Airmen stayed behind to take care of waiting customers, and it was then that an enemy rocket found its way into the maintenance compound. The rocket, by happenstance, hit near the maintenance tent, burying itself about 7-feet deep without detonating. A few feet in either direction and it would have hit a concrete surface with what could have been devastating results. "After the explosive ordnance disposal team detonated the rocket and made the area safe, people weren't talking much," Sergeant Browning said. "They just went right back to work, and even turned out three fully mission-capable Humvees that night." |